Position Paper on Video Cassettes at the Gates Public Library

by Susan I. Swanton, Library Director

In response to patron requests, direct and indirect, the library takes this position in regard to the selection and availability of its video cassette collection.

Selection

The library professional staff will select video cassettes in accordance with the Materials Selection and Availability Policy, as approved by the Library Board. In addition, the professional staff will balance the demand for popular recreational features with the increasing need for instructional or educational films, supplied as interest indicates, in a variety of formats for a variety of age levels, within budgetary restrictions.

Labeling

 In accordance with the the Library Board's approval of the Library Bill of Rights and the American Library Association's Freedom to Read Act, both a part of the Gates Materials Selection and Availability Policy, Gates Public Library will neither remove or add to video cassettes the film industry's rating system labels (G, PG, PG-13, R) since to do either is content labeling, a form of censorship.  The film industry's rating system has no legal standing, and is an arbitrary rating system.

However, the age level librarian, in purchasing for his/her assigned audience, will assign shelf location as is done for print materials: J for juvenile materials of prime interest to children up to grade 6, and blank for those materials considered of primarily adult interest. Also, wherever possible, a description of the video's content will be added to the online catalog entry as an aide for public selection.

Availability

As the Library Board has approved the Library Bill of Rights, no person's right to use the library will be abridged because of age. Therefore, all library materials, whether print or media, are available for loan to any library card holder. For all minors, a parent or guardian must sign a registration card for the minor (ages 5-17) to obtain a card. The parent or guardian is responsible for all use made of the library, including selection of materials by that child or young adult. We urge parents to exercise their parental duty to guide their child's use of the library, which includes the borrowing of video cassettes.

Questions by Gates residents on the adherence of this position paper to approved Library Board policies should be addressed to, first, the Library Director and, thereafter, to the Library Board of Trustees.

Susan I. Swanton, Library Director
January 1987 (updated 3/2001)